This warbler passed through our area last spring. I hope to catch another glimpse of these birds as they migrate south this fall. I usually see warblers high up in the trees. This bird was busy hopping along the ground close to a decaying tree and feeding on insects as he went. Fast subject, tricky light.

These photographs are the first I’ve ever taken of this woodpecker. I have not seen one in our local woods although they are said to be quite common in our area. We spotted him while on a road trip earlier in the summer. The bird was a handsome one but tricky to take because of the light conditions. I had to open up the shadows, remove the colour cast and adjust the luminance and saturation. He was quite close to us and our presence didn’t bother him so we managed to make the most of our brief encounter.

This female mallard was drying off after a swim but those wayward feathers would not be tamed. She is moulting like many other birds at this point in the summer. It’s a vulnerable time as she can’t fly until her feathers are replaced. They’re excellent swimmers though and the lake provides a lot of reedy waterways to escape to.

I have had few opportunities this summer to see or photograph Great Blue Herons. In fact we’ve seen fewer birds of any kind this year. This handsome bird, although a distance from shore, was not hiding in the reeds so we were able to get clear photographs. I hope for more sightings as I have to get my fill before the cold weather sets in and the herons head south.

This female merganser stood out among the other ducks on the lake. She seemed to be the lone merganser swimming alongside the mallards and wood ducks. She didn’t display her crest and with no mate nearby I thought she looked like a young one. Hooded Mergansers are small ducks and are divers not dabblers. Although we didn’t see her catch anything while we watched her, she certainly was trying.

These two don’t have much in common except for their challenging looks. They see me and hold their ground. The cardinal was at quite a distance so I had to crop the photo more than I like but with that expression and amazing crest I just had to feature him.

We missed all the hatchlings this year but still see some young birds once in a while. We came across this scene recently. The adults were off to the side and the goslings were snuggled together, some asleep, a few looking dozy. We took a few photos and let them settle down.

This little bird was a pleasure to see after a hot long walk without too much to show for it. The best part was that it wasn’t ducking behind leaves and branches allowing me these clear shots. I believe it’s a warbler but I’d appreciate a positive ID.

Red-winged blackbirds are among the earliest migrants to return in the spring. We see the males first and often hear their song before we spot them. The females are often found further into the woods gathering nesting material. Their colouring is more subtle than the males but just as beautiful I believe.

Winter or summer, set off against snow or foliage, cardinals are such handsome birds. Often shy, I seldom have a chance to focus on them for very long but not this bird. He stayed put, only moving a bit to change his pose.

Hairy woodpeckers are a little less common in our woods than the downy woodpeckers which they closely resemble, so it’s always a good day when I spot one. This female was intent on finding some insects and my presence didn’t deter her in the least.

One of the first spring migrants to our region, yellow-rumps are a sure sign of the change of seasons. Our local reserve had so many that when we asked a fellow photographer in passing what he had seen, he answered “nothing, just yellow-rumps”.  As they remain for only 2-3 weeks I can’t imagine tiring of them that quickly.

This young woodpecker was aware of us as she made her way from the tree to the water’s edge. She remained on the ground for a good five minutes having a drink and looking around. I have never been as close to a pileated before or seen one on the ground, it was pretty thrilling.